Williams leaves local Red Cross chapter

Henderson County operation now run out of Greenville, S.C.

Published: Monday, June 17, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, June 17, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

After nine years leading the Henderson County chapter of the American Red Cross, Mike Williams is no longer its executive director.

With tightening budgets and a movement toward a more nationalized organization, Williams resigned from his post sooner than he wanted to.

“I had planned to retire from the Red Cross down the road,” Williams said Monday afternoon.

Instead, he came back from vacation last week and on Wednesday was packing up his office. The national organization is moving from localized chapters to broader regions, Williams said, and the Henderson County operation is now run out of Greenville, S.C. Phone calls to the Henderson County chapter are now answered in Asheville.

Leadership from Greenville will be in Henderson County at 4 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the changes and “make sure they have what they need,” said Ann Wright, regional CEO for the Western Carolinas Region.

Wright oversees both North and South Carolina, which includes 27 counties. Red Cross currently has 44 employees in those two states on staff, she said. The only other executive director in her region, she added, is Amanda Edwards in Asheville.

Whether or not a county has an executive director, Wright said, depends on a lot of variables, but the primary one is activity.

A lot of the decision is based on “efficiency” as well, Wright said. Red Cross uses 91 cents of every dollar for its cause, she added, and they try to keep overhead down.

Henderson County has been tremendously active, Williams said of his team of volunteers. When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, Henderson County sent the largest contingent of volunteers from Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina, Williams said.

“We've developed some great people,” he said. “I'm very proud of what we've done.”

“It is a tremendous loss,” Rocky Hyder, Henderson County Emergency Services director said about losing Williams. “He will be missed in that position.”

Hyder said Williams has been “instrumental” in making improvements to disaster response in the county.

So what's next for Williams? He's picking away his fiddle for his band Appalachian Fire, but beyond that he's just waiting for the right place to land.

“Right now, I am looking for the right place for me,” he said. “I look forward to what my next chapter will be.”

<p>After nine years leading the Henderson County chapter of the American Red Cross, Mike Williams is no longer its executive director. </p><p>With tightening budgets and a movement toward a more nationalized organization, Williams resigned from his post sooner than he wanted to.</p><p>“I had planned to retire from the Red Cross down the road,” Williams said Monday afternoon.</p><p>Instead, he came back from vacation last week and on Wednesday was packing up his office. The national organization is moving from localized chapters to broader regions, Williams said, and the Henderson County operation is now run out of Greenville, S.C. Phone calls to the Henderson County chapter are now answered in Asheville. </p><p>Leadership from Greenville will be in Henderson County at 4 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the changes and “make sure they have what they need,” said Ann Wright, regional CEO for the Western Carolinas Region.</p><p>Wright oversees both North and South Carolina, which includes 27 counties. Red Cross currently has 44 employees in those two states on staff, she said. The only other executive director in her region, she added, is Amanda Edwards in Asheville. </p><p>Whether or not a county has an executive director, Wright said, depends on a lot of variables, but the primary one is activity. </p><p>A lot of the decision is based on “efficiency” as well, Wright said. Red Cross uses 91 cents of every dollar for its cause, she added, and they try to keep overhead down. </p><p>Henderson County has been tremendously active, Williams said of his team of volunteers. When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, Henderson County sent the largest contingent of volunteers from Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina, Williams said. </p><p>“We've developed some great people,” he said. “I'm very proud of what we've done.”</p><p>“It is a tremendous loss,” Rocky Hyder, Henderson County Emergency Services director said about losing Williams. “He will be missed in that position.”</p><p>Hyder said Williams has been “instrumental” in making improvements to disaster response in the county. </p><p>So what's next for Williams? He's picking away his fiddle for his band Appalachian Fire, but beyond that he's just waiting for the right place to land.</p><p>“Right now, I am looking for the right place for me,” he said. “I look forward to what my next chapter will be.”</p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>